An Invitation to Dialogue

In the context of discussions about the potential of collaborative research, a practice-based project was implemented in Auckland, New Zealand during 2006 and 2007, aimed to help develop a culture of enquiry among practitioners in social service. One design variable in this project was the World Café, a conversational process that helps groups to engage in constructive dialogue around critical questions, to build personal relationships, and to foster collaborative learning. In relation to other collaborative approaches, the World Café is powerful in terms of the use of cross-pollination of ideas through evolving rounds of information exchange and the use of a café-style social context that allows the sharing of information in an equitable and non-threatening manner. This article reports on the design and implementation of a World Café approach, located in the philosophy of appreciative inquiry, through ‘Café Hear and Now’. The authors reflect on the perceived value of this initiative and invite dialogue on the implementation of the World Café in social work research.